Police have arrested seven people suspected of committing at least 10 robberies over two weeks — AFP picPETALING JAYA, Nov 18 — Police here have arrested seven people suspected of committing at least 10 robberies over two weeks.

In their 20s and 30s, the seven are believed to also be behind a larger spree spanning Johor, Negri Sembilan, and Selangor, with crimes ranging from car theft to home invasions.

Petaling Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zani Che Din said more than 10 such robbery cases occurred in his district alone.

“We later found out they have been going around robbing and stealing victims’ vehicles, later using those stolen cars to carry out other crimes,” he said.

Mohd Zani explained the group were suspected in two robberies in Subang Jaya, one in South Klang, four in Negri Sembilan, and nine more in Johor over the past month.

“We have been granted a remand over them until Wednesday; surely the other districts and contingents would look to remand them further for further investigations,” he said.

Mohd Zani said one of suspects was already wanted for robbery, and did not rule out the involvement of organised crime, but said more investigation was needed.

Police were alerted to the group’s activities following an incident on October 18, in which several suspects armed with machetes and riding on two motorcycles robbed a vehicle owner of a Toyota Harrier.

He said the stolen vehicle was then used in at least 10 other crimes in Petaling Jaya over two weeks, prompting police to form a task force to track down on the suspects.

“We arrested two men from Damansara Perdana, where further investigations led us to five other accomplices in Subang Jaya and Perak,” he said.

Nine vehicles, seven of which were reported stolen, were seized from various locations, along with tools and weapons used in the robberies.

Mohd Zani said the suspects did not appear to have a clear pattern, instead choosing victims as opportunities arose.

“They would target those driving in the lonelier areas, crashing into the rear of the vehicles, before robbing them of everything,” he explained, when urging the public not to alight in such situations, but to find either a police station or fuel kiosk.